(Holly Springs > Memphis > Oxford MS, Thursday, February 1, 2007)-Dr Dorothy and I got back to Oxford on Thursday in time to participate in the opening ceremonies for the new extension at Two Stick, where the construction and finishing crew led by Brett and Buddha had turned an unruly storage area behind the stage into a full back bar and gathering space that may also be used to seat an overflow from the main dining area. This is indeed a cause for celebration, and the whole fucking club ties one on big time.

The musical entertainment is provided by the Mayhem String Band, but before they get started Dr D and I are called upon to offer an invocation and ritual blessing for the new room, and we're happy to be part of the festivities. I've got somewhat of an identity as a spiritual practitioner in Oxford, where-under the powers vested in me by the Universal Life Church-I've married Dave & Stevie Woolworth and helped marry Chad & Allison. My little congregation is always glad to see me hit town, and they take such good care of me that I try to spend a few weeks there in residence every year.

Dorothy's troubles with her son Ty's legal dilemma haven't subsided, and she spends several hours each day on the phone with lawyers, court personnel and her other three sons: Abe, Andrew and Mike. I've got the entire weekend off and I use it to start catching up on my work. Our little room is pretty much undisturbed except during band time when random groups of revelers invite themselves to join us in our space, so it's easy to put in some quality time with my iBook and the Two Stick's strong wireless connection.

On Monday night Eero Ruuttila & Simon Pettet drive into town and join the First Monday Night poetry set at Two Stick, delivering dynamic performances and gaining the complete affection of the sizable crowd. Then Dr D and I get to sit in with Pithecanfunkus Erectus, the reggae > funk > groove band organized by my man Dave Woolworth and featuring the great Robert Chaffee on keyboards and the great Max Williams on guitar.

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Monday also brought on the RadioFreeAmsterdam.com podcast of episode #121 of my radio show:

Vito Laterza, host of the Who Do You Think You Are Show on Cambridge Radio, joined me again at the Butlins Holiday Camp near Minehead in southern England for the All Tomorrow's Parties festival curated by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. We're here as Thurston's guests and our Joint Production today, on the 35th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, emanates from Thurston and Kim Gordon's "chalet" on the Butlins grounds. Vito and I do all the talking and our musical selections are not quite my usual fare: cuts by the Stooges, DKT/MC5, Sonic Youth, Comets on Fire, Bardo Pond, Deerhoof, plus John Sinclair & Wayne Kramer.

A JOINT PRODUCTIONHosted by Vito Laterza for Who Do You Think You Are &John Sinclair for Radio Free AmsterdamProduced, engineered and mastered by Vito LaterzaPosted by Henk BotwinikExecutive Producer: John SinclairSponsored by All Tomorrow's Parties and Eat at Jo's in The MilkwegSpecial thanks to Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Carlos, Barry, Margaret Saadi Kramer, Byron Coley & Michael Ehlers, and to the spirit of the great John Lennon.

Podcast by www.RadioFreeAmsterdam.com on February 5, 2007 and broadcast by 209 Radio Cambridge, UK, on Wednesday, December 13, 2006.

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Tuesday night Dr Dorothy and I joined the Shannon McNally Band at Proud Larry's down the alley from Two Stick as the opening act for Shannon's show. What a great band! Eric Deaton and Cary Hudson on guitars, Wallace Lester at the drums and the bass player whose name I can't call up now works across the street at Square Books. The music was terrific as anticipated and we had a natural ball.

That would be the last of our performances until we got to New Orleans, and the rest of the week was exceedingly peaceful as well as productive. We stayed to our little room and kept our iBooks humming with one thing or another. My chief task was assembling what I think of as the American/UK version of IT'S ALL GOOD, with the 19 pieces from the Italian edition and another 25 selections to make up 44-22 poems and 22 writings-to celebrate my 44 years as a poet and writer. I got the whole thing lined up, brought over the documents from my files, corrected and emended them and put the whole book in order. Now to find a publisher!

Everything was lovely when we loaded out at noon Monday, had a last meal of the greatest sushi in America at Two Stick, and motored down Highway 7 to begin our drive into New Orleans for the Mardi Gras.